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Item 783670
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REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviewsPros
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REVIEWS
Reviewed by 8 customers
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Displaying reviews 1-8
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Comments about Primus EtaPack Lite Stove System:
First off I love this stove. I have had many stoves including MSR, other Primus stoves, and Jetboil. I primarily use my Jetboil for backpacking and I am tempted to leave it at home now. The EtaPackLite is faster, more stable, and more versatile. I can not only heat water, but instant rice, and even cook eggs if I choose to.
There are a few key things to note and to address from other reviewers. First, as almost all said, the pot, windscreen, and stove are extremely stable. Major plus. The fuel hose has a brass section that runs across the burner. HUGE plus. This is a feature most commonly seen on liquid fuel stoves to heat the fuel and increase pressure but this means that at very cold temperatures and high altitudes the EtaPackLite doesn't lose pressure like other stoves and cooks fast and hot.
To address complainers read the following. First of all the pot liner and pot base cover are NOT plate and bowl set. They are liners pure and simple, they are there to protect the pot from damage. I suppose you could use them to eat from but that is not their intention. I carry collapsible silicon bowl and a cup, that is adequate and requires almost no sacrifice in space or weight in my bag. The lighter: common complaint. There is a trick. Turn the fuel on low and then light. If the fuel is turned on high, or even medium it will blow out the spark. This is common on nearly every piezo lighter I have ever used. Plus, if the spark is weak bend the lighter toward the burner, that will help. If that still fails it is probably very very cold out and just use a match.
I highly recommend this stove to anyone who wants a fast boiling stove with a pot that is more usable than a Jetboil. Pack light, travel far, and eat well.
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Comments about Primus EtaPack Lite Stove System:
I complained above about not being able to get a replacement pot liner, but then e-mailed Primus in Sweden and found myself in touch with a product mgr in the US, who sent me a new one at no cost. Clearly Primus is interested in good customer PR, though they may still have a prob supplying parts. I did suggest they mold the plastic parts in green instead of black to maximize visibility.
Responding to the other comments: I unhooked the pot handle and bent it slightly to tighten, so with the use of the sliding lock I doubt I will have any prob with the handle slipping, which did happen once when used by a buddy who hadn't slid the lock (before I bent the handle). So I like the pot myself. I've had no problem fitting a 100 gr canister inside with the stove, though I acknowledge damage to the lighter could be a concern; I'll have to check again how a canister goes in there. I mostly use the large canisters, which won't fit. I've had no problem with the lighter.
Some people might want a simpler lighter stove, but then won't get the fuel efficiency and stability that come with the windscreen, heat exchanger and wide low base.
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Comments about Primus EtaPack Lite Stove System:
This stove works well but I can't get a replacement pot liner/bowl. PrimusCamping.com is the manufacturer and that is now owned by North American Gear, who say they cannot sell me this part. REI suggested A and H Enterprises [...] I question if REI should be selling stoves for which replacement parts are not available.
Pros
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Comments about Primus EtaPack Lite Stove System:
The Primus Etapack lite boils water in a hurry. I've used it many times in Colorado at or sometimes above timberline and it's great. The system fits together pretty nicely with a little practice. It could be a little more stable, but then again it only takes a minute to smooth out a piece of ground. The piezo ignitor does not work after about the first 25 times, but that is nothing new. All in all it's a fast cooker, and a light system.
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Comments about Primus EtaPack Lite Stove System:
Difficult to see bowl in the dark so don't forget to remove it before heating water, etc.
The lighter mostly doesn't work - Bring matches.
Pros
Cons
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Comments about Primus EtaPack Lite Stove System:
I was excited when Primus introduced this as a lightweight version of their ETA cooking system. Now that I have one I'm not so sure.
First off, this thing cooks well. The burner is quite powerful for its size, and with an integrated windscreen, boil times are very good even in extreme conditions. The set offers a bowl and plate to eat with, and spare room to pack a small fuel cylinder and their folding spork. Set is lightweight and packs into about the same size as the Titan mini cookset.
With that said, Primus fell far short of my other expectations for a high end cooking set. The plate and bowl are both flimsy and are worth more as protective liners rather than to eat with, not to mention they are another thing you have to clean before packing away. You must use the bowl, otherwise the edge of windscreen will scratch the side of the pot during packing. The handle is made from too thin metal and may collapse when the pot is full even with the locking slide engaged. The handle also likes to snag on the carry pouch when sliding in and out. A small (not large) fuel cylinder will fit inside, but it is difficult to figure out how, and the precise spot for it (which is directly over the burner when angled) could potentially damage the piezo striker.
This set works well for dayhikes when you have a little extra time to prepare a hot meal. However, the complicated packing and unpacking, flimsy parts, and potential for damage makes it less attractive than other competing systems such as Jetboil.
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Comments about Primus EtaPack Lite Stove System:
I second everything that JC said except for the collapsing handle.
The handle has a sliding lock on it. I found if you don't slide it all the way foward the handle can collapse, but once forward into the locked position it is quite sturdy.
Pros
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Comments about Primus EtaPack Lite Stove System:
Among the fastest boil time of any stove. Windscreen design is genius, pot cleans easy, extra bowl and plate. Very well designed with a few exceptions,....the handle will collapse with a full pot, even after taking care to make sure the wire handle is engaged well in the slots, use both hands or a pot lifter instead of the wire handle. Also the ignitor electrode can hang up on the burner while clicking the burner into place, just watch for it. Also it appears if you keep a small canister in the pot (it does fit) it may rest on the electrode and bend it. It is easier to light if you remove the windscreen, not a problem.
All stoves should have heat exchanger pots, and integrated windscreens like this. Even though mine weighs 25 ounces, look at what you get, and factor in the fuel weight. I love my Jet Boil too, but this beat it in every boil test I did.
Big thumbs up, and I own over twenty stoves ranging from vintage to modern.
Displaying reviews 1-8
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